The Odisha vigilance department on Saturday filed a 3,000-page chargesheet against Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy and his wife in a disproportionate assets case.

Panigrahy, a former BJD leader, was found in possession of assets worth Rs 9.18 crore, which was disproportionate to his known source of income.

Gopalpur Assembly constituency is a part of the Ganjam district in Odisha.

The chargesheet was filed at the Special Court of Vigilance in Bhubaneswar following an order from the Lokayukta.

The vigilance department, which had registered a case against Panigrahy on October 4, 2021, in a media release said: “During the course of the investigation, house searches were conducted and relevant materials, documents and information relating to assets, income and expenditure were collected.

“After the completion of the investigation, Panigrahy was found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 9.18 crore whichhe could not explain satisfactorily. His spouse was also found liable for abetting the offence. Accordingly, the investigation report was filed before the Lokayukta on June 9, 2022.”

After examining the report, the Lokayukta on April 20 this year ordered the submission of a chargesheet against Panigrahy and his wife. “Accordingly, a 3,000-page chargesheet has been filed in the Special Court, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar documenting detailed evidence against the accused persons,” the statement added.